Oscar M. Alcaraz

Oscar Magan Alcaráz (4 May 1953–30 Aug 1970) was a Scout and Junior Forest Ranger of Eulogio Rodriguez Jr. High School in La Loma, Quezon City. His Scout unit, Explorer Post 14, was registered with the Quezon City Council of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines. Alcaráz drowned[1] at the La Mesa Dam Reforestation Project of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, the Philippine National Bank, and the Reforestation Administration when he got entangled in water plants that prevented his escape after conducting a swimming rescue of his drowning Scoutmaster. Alcaráz was the first non-military, non-President, to be buried (31 October 1970) at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, Fort Bonifacio. He was posthumously conferred a gold medal of honor by the Boy Scouts of the Philippines on 31 October 1970.[2]

The death, funeral, re-internment, award conferment, and friends' reminiscences of Alcaráz have been documented in many national newspapers, magazine articles, web pages, books, and other documents. His story is often retold in the Boy Scouts of the Philippines and at E. Rodriguez Jr. High School near which Morong Street has been renamed Scout Oscar M. Alcaraz Street. The following three direct quotations summarize and serve as historical references on the story of Alcaráz, his heroism, and his sacrifice:[3]


Monument citation

On a monument to Alcaráz at the Eulogio Rodriguez Jr. High School, Mayon Avenue, La Loma, Quezon City are a bust of Alcaráz and a plaque with the following citation, quote:

Boy Scouts of the Philippines

Quezon City Council

SCOUT OSCAR M. ALCARAZ

A troop of Boy Scouts was on assignment to inspect tree seedlings, which were submerged in water. They were led by Scouter Temistocles Amper, then Assistant Camp Director and activities officer of the La Mesa Dam Reforestation Project of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, Philippine National Bank and the Reforestation Administration.

As they hiked on the trail along the dam going back to the Campsite, Scouter Amper who was ahead of the group, accidentally stepped on the edge of the embankment and fell into the deep water. Upon seeing this SCOUT OSCAR M. ALCARAZ rushed to the scene. He immediately jumped into the water and pushed Scouter Amper towards the bank; but, had in the process thrown himself away into the deeper portion of the dam.

Aware of the danger he was in, he shouted to warn other Scouts, "Do not jump; it's too deep in this part." The other Scouts tried to reach him by forming a human chain but to no avail: SCOUT OSCAR M. ALCARAZ finally sank.

They tried to call help from the La Mesa Dam workers and divers, but they too were not able to locate him. His body was eventually recovered by the Philippine Navy frogmen the next day.

SCOUT OSCAR M. ALCARAZ did not die in vain because he gave his life so that others may live. He died on a fitting day: AUGUST 30, 1970, National Heroes’ Day.

In recognition of his gallantry and heroism, he was conferred the GOLD MEDAL OF HONOR by the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, the PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF MERIT posthumously by President Ferdinand E. Marcos in a solemn and touching ceremony at the Malacañang Palace on September 11, 1970. Also, by virtue of an Administrative Order, his body was ordered transferred and the first civilian to be interred at the LIBINGAN NG MGA BAYANI, FORT BONIFACIO on October 31, 1970. The City Council of Quezon City, by virtue of an ordinance in his honor, renamed Morong Street to SCOUT OSCAR M. ALCARAZ, near the corner street of his alma mater Eulogio Rodriguez Jr. High School.

Malacañang press release

In a press release on 11 September 1970, the Malacañang Office of the Press Secretary announced the conferment by President Ferdinand Marcos of the Presidential Merit Medal on Alcaráz, quote:

NEWS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE PRESS SECRETARY

MALACAÑANG, MANILA, PHILIPPINES

PRESS RELEASE NO. 1 September 11, 1970

SUBJECT: PFM HONORS SCOUT HERO 4:45 p. m.

President Marcos today (Fri., Sept. 11) conferred the Presidential Medal of Merit on the late Oscar M. Alcaraz, a young explorer scout who drowned while saving the life of a drowning comrade.

Alcaraz died last August 30, National Heroes Day, at the La Mesa Dam reservoir.

The posthumous award on Alcaraz was given to the honoree's mother, Mrs. Regina M. Alcaraz, at a simple ceremony in Malacañang this morning. It was a touching ceremony coinciding with the President's birthday.

Addressing Mrs. Alcaraz, the President said her son died as a true Filipino who showed not only physical courage but compassion and concern for others.

At the same time, the President assured her that the government will extend every help to the hero's family.

Tragedy befell the young Alcaraz while his troop of 48 explorer scouts was performing volunteer work -- planting narra saplings in the La Mesa Dam area in connection with the government's reforestation program being jointly undertaken by the Philippine National Bank, the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, and the Reforestation Administration.

Alcaraz was 17 at the time of his death, and the eldest of five children of Mrs. Alcaraz by her first husband. The late scout was a third year high school student.

According to the accounts of his comrades, at about 12:30 p.m. last August 30 while they were preparing to return to camp after work, they had to pass through a trail which was then submerged by water due to the recent heavy rains.

Their scoutmaster, Tim Amper, led the single-file pack aided by a short pole to feel their way through the inundated grass. While wading through the trail, Tim Amper slipped into a deep portion of the dam, and while he tried to swim out, his shoes and legs got entangled among the thick seaweeds.

But Amper's comrades saw him struggling futilely as he tried to remove his shoes underwater. And he gasped a faint cry for help, "Mga bata, tulungan 'nyo ako."

The boys came to his rescue, with the daring Alcaraz diving into the deeper portion of the water. He succeeded in shoving Amper up for the other boys to pull him into safety. In doing so, however, Alcaraz shoved himself into deeper water. While some of the boys tried to resuscitate Amper, the rest went to Alcaraz' rescue.

Twilight fell, but they failed to find Alcaraz. It was only the day after that frogmen of the Philippine Navy retrieved Alcaraz' body.

The award ceremony was witnessed by Prof. Max Borgonia, camp staffmember of the PNB-BSP-RA work camp at La Mesa Dam; Romeo San Juan, institutional representative of the BSP and head teacher of the E. Rodriguez, Jr. High School; Vivencio M. Magpantay, post advisor; and some colleagues in Post 7 of the deceased, Scouts Reynaldo Samano, Ramon S. Riego, Cesar D. Mangalindan, Alfredo Garcia, and Francisco Jacob, all of the E. Rodriguez, Jr. High School, Quezon City.

Presidential Merit Medal

The Presidential Merit Medal certification reads, quote:

The President of the Philippines

hereby confers

The Presidential Merit Medal

Upon

Oscar Alcaraz

Boy Scout

CITATION

In recognition of his heroism

As a boy scout, who gave his life to save his scout master from drowning, making the ultimate sacrifice to uphold the scout motto of Service to Humanity;

As a human being, who chose the safety of another over his own;

As a true Filipino, who showed the physical bravery, heroism and concern for others which all Filipinos should emulate;

I, Ferdinand E. Marcos, President of the Philippines, now therefore confer upon Oscar Alcaraz, deceased, the Presidential Merit Medal posthumously, this 11th day of September, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and seventy.

FEMarcos

Namesakes

Scout units named after Alcaráz include:

References

  1. ↑ on National Heroes' Day
  2. ↑ photographs
  3. ↑ Regardless of lapses in grammar, spelling, or style, direct quotations are NOT corrected or otherwise altered, as these are historical documents which serve as bases and evidence for later narratives by researchers, historians, reporters, and legal opinions.
  4. ↑ "SCOUT OSCAR M. ALCARAZ COMMUNITY SCOUT (SOMACOMSCO) OUTFIT 425 OF QUEZON CITY COUNCIL - 2016 BRIGADA ESKWELA". Retrieved 3 September 2016.

Bibliography

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